NEWS FROM THE FARMERS IN THE FIELD

Boml 1

ZAIRE
*

AFRCA

Dukfivu

Newsletter of Jim and Susan Farmer

with

Pioneer Bible Translators

ond

African Christian Mission

Field Address:

Forwarding Agent
Valorie Sierens

Jim and Susan Farmer

B.P. 166

Public Relations Representatives: Martin and Georgette Miller

13621 Helen St.

543 Minneola Ave.

cyangugu, Rwanda
AFRICA

Clermont, FL 34711
(904) 394-6507

Clermont, FL 34711
(904) 394-4833

May, 1993

Dear Friends, Greetings once again from Zaire! This is the last time we'll be writing that for a while since we'll be beginning ourfurlough in latejuly! Butbeforegettingintothat,weneed to updateslnceourlast newsletter. The biggest news, of course, is that
CALEB DANIEL FARMER was born

on Thursday, February 18,1993

at 3:52 a.m.

in Nairobi, Kenya

He weighed 8 pounds and was 21 inches long.

He has beautiful auburn hair and blue eyes.

So far he has been a very easy-going baby and has Ht right in. Ethan and Abram are quite doting big brothers, too. We thank the Lord that He blessed the overall experience in Kenya for the birth, even down
to the smallest detail!

Ethan and Abram are thrifJed

with their new

brother.

since getting back to Bomili, the time isjust looking too short to be able to accomplish all that we
wanted to before furlough. With that realization comes quite a bit of disappointment We're experiencing what they told us about in the African Orientation Course we attended in Cameroon at the beginning of this term, that typically a missionary suffers from a lower self-esteem at the end of

his term than at the beginning, primarily because he/she has not been able to accomplish a fraction of what was hoped for. But on the other hand, in another portion of our orientation, we were encouraged to feel like we had a successful first term if we just survived it! And we have definitely done that and enjoyed it, and are constantly amazed at what the Lord has been able to accomplish
through us, as little as that may seem like at times. We thought it would be a good idea to include our tentative furlough schedule here with some events that are already on the calendar so you would have an idea when we would be in your area. lulv 23 -- Arrive in USA! (at Orlando, Florida) Early August ~ visit Jim's family in Kentucky; African Christian Mission Trustees

Meeting in Fairfield, Illinois; visit with supporting churches in Kentucky,Virginia,

South Carolina.

Late August/earlv September -- settle in Florida and enroll Ethan in school.

October - Florida Christian Convention and National Missionary Convention.

November - Pioneer Bible Translator's Board of Directors Meeting in Dallas, Texas;

visit supporting churches in Texas. Late December/earlv lanuarv -- another trip to Kentucky area for more time with Jim's family and churches in that area. lanuarv - Faith Promise Meeting at First Church of Christ, Eustis, Florida. February - Johnson Bible College Homecoming, Knoxville, Tennessee.

March ~ Missions Fair at Valley View Christian Church, Dallas, Texas; another visit
with supporting churches in Texas. April -- Nothing yet!

May Pioneer Missions Institute and PBT Board Meeting.

lune Vacation Bible Schools (VBS).

July -- More VBS's; North American Christian Convention.

August -- More VBS's; another trip to Kentucky to see family and churches; to the
ACM Trustees Meeting in Illinois; RETURN TO ZAIRE!

We anticipate needing to do quite a bit of support-raising on this furiough since we have lost some of the committed support we had at the beginning of this term, plus we anticipate having an increased budget for next term. Ifyou can put us in contact with any churches or individuals who might be able
to help in this area, please let us know. We're looking forward to seeing you sooni
With love in Christ.

Dear Friends, The goal of our ministry here in Zaire has never been only litera^. To educate the people how to read

and write certainly is a reward within itself and is a major contribution to the development of any community and mankind as a whole. But within the goal of literacy I also know that an illiterate person cannot read the Bible, which isthe lifesource to our spiritual development in Christ in much the same way as the umbilical cord is the life source to a baby still in its mother's womb. I also know many people have
accepted Christ as their Saviour simply because they could pick up a Bible and read its contents. In this letter

I want to take you on another journey with us to preach and distribute Scripture portions in the language the people here best understand, which is their mother tongue of Kibali. I hope you can feel a part of the difficulties we encounter on the way; but more than that, I hope you can share with us the joy of seeing the encouragement we give to the Christians we share with on the way and those whom we see come to
Christ

We had planned a trip down the Bomili road (which is more a trail now than a road) several times, but
each time we were forced to cancel it for one reason or another. The Hrst time we received news that

soldiers were at Bafwasende causing problems and we were advised to stay where we were. The second time we were at Bafwasende ready to do the trip as we returned to Bomili, but then we learned of a death in the family of Apos(co-translatorforthe KibaliNewTestament) so wehad to return to Bomili immediately. Finally, this past month we made the trip, but it was almost foiled again as we had a motorcycle wreck while crossing an old log bridge near the beginning of the trip. But by God's grace neither Apos nor I was hurt so we continued on with the trip. We arrived at the first village just at dusk. We then sent word out that we would have a program the next morning in Kibali. Forthe first presentation there were nearly 100 people present and from this group, 3 people publicly repented of sin in their lives. After the program we distributed a number of tracts and Kibali scripture portions. After a meeting with the village chief and leaders to talk about our literacy program for the Babali,we had lunch and left for the next village. But, on arriving, we found nearly everyone gone to the forest to guard their gardens from animals and birds. This was a frustration during our whole journey as it is gardening season now and the people's existence centers around their gardens. We knew of one pygmy village in the forest so we struck out to flnd it with our guide who knew where they were living. The pygmies are somewhat nomadic, moving from place to place as their needs dictate, so it can be difficultto Andthem. Approaching their camp our guide struck a tree with a stick which gave a resounding "bang, bang, bang." In the near distance we could hear the response of the knock as their voices carried from one hut to the next announcing our arrival and welcome, just as we arrived it began to pour the rain, but we were made comfortable and given our sleeping quarters and beds which consisted ofa simple forest mat. Their homes are built from basic forest materials of vines, sticks, and leaves, but theyare veiy effective to keep out the raini Once we were settled in I met with the chief to explain to him why we were there and he gladly accepted us. That evening we had a visit from one of the most feared animals in the forest - a leopard. It came without notice and before anyone, except a small child, even saw it, it escaped with asmallhuntingdog. Thatnightitcamebacksearchingthehutsforsomethingelsetoeat,butthe men scared it away. It was amazing to me that it had come in broad daylight to within 6 feet of some women and 12 feet of me without notice or sound, not even from its prey - the dogi The next morning we were up and preparing for our program. We used the same lessons as before

of the creation of the world and the life of Christ This program has been very effective in times past, but
at this time, no one gave their life to Christ We pray that seeds were sown for a future harvest After the lesson I very much enjoyed a hunting trip with some of the greatest hunters in the world. We hiked for about 3 miles deeper into the forest where we began to string together their nets in succession to form a barrier of nearly 1,000 yards. Certain of the men and women, along with a couple of dogs, circled around behind the animals and began to chase them into our nets. By the day's end we had Hve small antelopes and one bengale (alsoan antelope, but much larger - about 35 pounds) which I personally got to chase into the net I was given to use! In the mind of the Pygmies some force is behind everything that happens, whether good or bad (this is in most all African cultural thought) and I hoped they would contribute my success to God. That evening we shared in food and some stories around a campfire and they danced as
they love to do and then we slept

The following morning we got up, ate, and said our goodbyes. I assured them I would be back soon and then we were off on our 8-mile hike out of the forest as we started the last of our 4-day trip. The Ituri

Forest is absolutely amazing with its different layers of foliage terminating in trees a hundred yards high with all kinds of life at each layer, especially many species of monkeys skippering about as they curiously
watch us from a safe haven.

Finally, we were out of the dense, humid forest and onto the Bomili road. We passed through several villageswhich were likeghost towns as virtuallyeveryone was guardingor working intheirgardens. Finally inthe late evening we entered the last village before Bomili where we would spend the night to do our final

program. Up to this point I had been very disappointed with our trip as we had not seen anyone give their lifeto Christand many of the villages we had hoped to preach at were empty. After arriving in this village we got settled into the place we would sleep and began our program. By this time it was late inthe evening and almost everyone fromthe village was therel We began our teaching but nightfall was coming fast and it was obvious we were going to run out light before we were Rnished. At
first I was uncertain what to do because it is very important for the pictures to be seen if the presentation is to be effective. Then the Lord gave me the simple idea to shine a flashlight on the pictures. This proved veiy elective as the piaures seemed to glow in the dark -- which probably improved everyone's ability to see themi Asthe pictures were

presented and Apos was preaching, I could hear many tongue clicks
which is an expression of regret or maybe surprise (that is as close as I

Bicycfesarea really helpfulform of transportation here.

can describe it). At the end of the presentation we gave the invitation which includes a lot of songs and further preaching. At the end of the program there were 17 repentances and 6 people who gave their lives to Christ Forthe first time during the whole trip I felt like all the rough travel, hard beds, and sleepless nights had paid off. That night we had a large fet (feast) which consisted of forest pig, antelope, monkey, and sombe (a type of vegetable), all cooked in palm oil. it was a good time to talk and laugh and further establish our relationships with the Babali. We were up early the following morning and off to Bomili where many ongoing and unfinished jobs awaited me. Forthis journey Ithanked God for all the experiences He had let us have, especially of seeing others come to Christl As Susan has pointed out, we are coming down to the end of our time here. We both are a bit overwhelmed with what we must get done before we leave and somewhat discouraged from what we will
have to leave undone. But looking back over the past 22 years we see that God has used us to further Hiskingdom and for that we praise Him and are already looking
forward to our second term of service here in Zaire. Thank

you for your support which has enabled us to work here. We eagerly anticipate your fellowship during our time at
home.

4^

fTi

In Christ, n ^

u
3 O

^21 g c r2
ft.

O e 5 -c

CURRENT PRAYER NEEDS

Please thank the Lord fon

8|
n B

5 55

- the way He blessed our time in Kenya for Caleb's birth. - good health for all of us. - the fruit He has brought from our ministry here: 46 baptisms and 65 repentances during our first term.
Please ask the Lord for:

s g
wo

is
s &

- continued peacefulness in the politicaltransition taking

place here.

- beginning months of our furiough to go well with the

necessary adjustments for all of us.

H E Z
a ^

= rs 2
*

C (N H
-r

~ continued progress in the literacy evangelism program with the Zairean leadership left in charge during our
furiough.

rN

S O X'S .2 5

2^